Cristiano Ronaldo has clarified his stance as Portugal prepares to defend its UEFA Nations League title under new head coach Jorge Jesus. At 41 years old, Ronaldo remains a key figure for the national team, but his recent comments shed light on his acceptance of a potentially altered role in the squad.
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Jesus, who previously coached Ronaldo at Al-Nassr and led the team to a Saudi Pro League title, has made it clear that he will choose players based on current performance rather than reputation alone. He emphasized that Ronaldo's previous accolades, including five Ballon d’Or awards, do not guarantee him a starting position. "Cristiano is a player like all the others. If he performs well, he plays. If he doesn’t, he won’t," Jesus remarked.
As Portugal readies to face Wales in Lisbon on Thursday, Ronaldo expressed his willingness to adapt to the coach's decisions. "I’m completely ready to play. If the coach wants me to start the match on the bench, I’m ready for that too," he stated. He further indicated that he would not mind sitting out entirely if that’s what the coach deems necessary, saying, "It’s about managing the squad, and that’s the coach’s responsibility."
Ronaldo acknowledged the importance of rotation due to the compressed schedule of upcoming matches. He accepted that expecting every player to complete 90 minutes is unrealistic, noting, "I understand that things will work this way given the short amount of time."
Despite his longstanding presence in the national team over two decades, Ronaldo remains committed to contributing in whatever capacity the coach sees fit. The UEFA Nations League offers another platform for the forward to enhance his international legacy, as Portugal enters the tournament as the defending champion after defeating Spain on penalties in the 2025 final.